Adoption Dispute Legal Guidance

Summary

The users daughter signed over temporary guardianship of her son to a third party for a year, with weekly visitation rights. The third party has now stopped communication and is attempting to adopt the child. The user is seeking legal advice on how to contest the adoption and regain custody of her grandson. The user has contacted the police and legal aid services but has not received any assistance. The user is also seeking pro bono legal services due to financial constraints. The biological father of the child is not on the birth certificate but is willing to assist in contesting the adoption.

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My daughter was tricked into signing my grandson over to complete strangers for a year. Now they're trying to adopt him
What state are you located in, ****? This will help me provide the most accurate information regarding adoption laws in your area.
Missouri
What is the age of your grandson and when was the agreement signed? In Missouri, a child can only be adopted with the consent of the legal parents.
* this happened in April
What were the terms of the agreement your daughter signed? In Missouri, adoption requires parental consent and a court process.
She signed over her rights for a year with visitation once a week.bthwy stopped answering her calls wouldn't answer mine either
Did your daughter receive any legal advice before signing the agreement? In Missouri, it's crucial to have legal representation in such matters to protect parental rights.
No
Did your daughter sign any official legal documents, or was this an informal agreement?
It was notarized
What was the content of the notarized document? It's important to know if it was a temporary guardianship agreement or an adoption agreement.
Just that they had him for a year as far as I understand
What steps have you taken so far to resolve this issue? In Missouri, revoking a guardianship agreement requires a court process.
I just got the adoption papers in the mail lastnight. I've contacted you
What does the adoption paper state? It's important to understand the content to provide accurate information. In Missouri, adoption requires a court process and parental consent.
We are broke
What is the name of the court that sent the adoption papers?
I can't even understand them really
Could you please share the name of the court mentioned in the adoption papers? This will help me provide you with the contact details for further assistance.
Motion for leave of court to file amended petition to out of time
What is the exact name of the court mentioned in the adoption papers?
Circuit of Greene county court
What is the exact content of the adoption papers you received?

Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri:
- Address: * Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO *
- Phone: (*) *-*
Juvenile division
What is the case number mentioned in the adoption papers? This will help you track the case in the Juvenile Division of the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri.
23GK-JU00284
What is the name of the person or agency trying to adopt your grandson? This will help in understanding who is involved in the case.
The woman is Shanteal L. Wicklund. Says she's filing single but there's a man with her
What is the relationship between Shanteal L. Wicklund and your grandson?
None
What steps has your daughter taken to revoke the guardianship agreement? In Missouri, revoking a guardianship agreement requires a court process.
Zero, we just got the papers we don't know what to do
What is the name of your daughter's legal representative, if she has one?
She doesnt
What is your daughter's financial situation? She may qualify for free legal aid in Missouri.
She's broke no job at the moment no child support nothin
What steps have you taken to apply for free legal aid in Missouri?
I have myself and was turned down
Why were you turned down for free legal aid in Missouri?
I'm not sure . It said too many cases can't help everyone .more or less . This was before these papers were filed
Have you tried contacting other legal aid services in Missouri since receiving the adoption papers?
I made a police report 11 days after my daughter signed him over . I'm not really sure what on Earth to do
What was the response from the police after you made the report?
I didn't get any that I know of but my phone got shut off as well but I got no emails
What was the reason given by the police for not taking any action on your report?
My daughter just give me the agreement paperwork not long ago and I emailed it into them too and have not received a response
What is the content of the agreement paperwork that you emailed to the police?
It was the agreement my daughter signed to sign him over for a year
What were the exact terms of the agreement your daughter signed?
She agreed to sign him over for a year with visitations for once a week
Did your daughter receive any compensation or anything in return for signing over her rights?
Not that I know of and she lives with me but I was working out of town a lot
What actions did the people who have your grandson take when your daughter tried to exercise her visitation rights?
Nobody ever answered the phone at all and I have been calling since I got the paperwork in June the very beginning of June maybe the end of May
What steps have you taken to contact the Circuit Court of Greene County regarding this issue?
That's the problem I don't understand what I'm supposed to do
Have you considered hiring a lawyer to help you understand the legal process and guide you through it?
If there's anything I can do if what she needs to do we don't know we don't have any money I thought about a consultation but we don't have any money we need help
Have you tried reaching out to pro bono legal services or legal aid societies in Missouri? They often provide free legal assistance to those who can't afford it.
I thought I was reaching out to Probono right here to be honest
I'm sorry for the confusion, ****. We are FreeLawChat, not Probono. However, we can still provide legal information. Did your daughter sign a temporary guardianship agreement or an adoption agreement?
I need help getting the right direction in the right steps
What is the exact content of the notarized document your daughter signed?
Yes for a year with once a week visitation can you get me to where pro bono is can you send me there can you put me the right direction where probono is
What is your location? Based on that, I can provide you with the contact details of the nearest pro bono legal services.
Springfield Missouri I am frantic here I want my grandson back home. We just lost my mother she was tricked in to doing this
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Have you tried contacting the Legal Services of Southern Missouri? They provide free legal aid. Their contact is (*) *-*.
They are the ones who turned me down we haven't tried for my daughter yet though I need to know about pro bono is there a good attorney who does pro bono in my area
What is your daughter's income level? This information can help determine her eligibility for pro bono services. In Missouri, many organizations offer pro bono legal services based on income.
Zero
Based on your daughter's income, she may qualify for pro bono services. You can contact The Missouri Bar's Pro Bono Program at (*) *-* for assistance.
Ok thank you. They give us 10 days to respond what should we do do we need to contact attorneys first or do we need to somehow respond to this
What is the exact content of the document that requires a response within 10 days? This will help determine the best course of action.
This stuff from the attorney then wanting to it says motion of leave for court to file admitted petition to out of Time amended petition to adopt by consent
What is the deadline mentioned in the document for the response?
The father is in the picture I have been letting him see my grandson my daughter just didn't know it does that help me
What is the legal status of the father? Is he willing to contest the adoption? In Missouri, both biological parents generally need to consent for an adoption to proceed.
What do you mean the status of the legal father he's not on the birth certificate
Is the biological father willing and able to assert his parental rights? In Missouri, if a father is not on the birth certificate, he may need to establish paternity to have legal rights.
I'm sure but he's in no position to have custody or take care of him
Is the biological father willing to participate in the legal process to contest the adoption, even if he doesn't seek custody?
And drive 21st is when they filed all this I don't see it at end date or a due date or whatever
What is the exact date mentioned in the document for filing a response?
I can't find one and yes the father would assist me in getting custody I'm sure
What is the father's full name and does he have any legal representation?
They keep saying they've had him approximately since April 30th which is not true they've had him since May 9th when she signed the papers
What is the significance of the dates April 30th and May 9th in relation to the custody of your grandson?
April 30th is when they said they got my grandson May 9th is when she signed the paperwork they've not had him since April 30th they were babysitting him then but she got him every night
What evidence do you have to prove that they only started having him from May 9th and not April 30th as they claim?
I was under the impression they were babysitters the whole time
Do you have any written communication or other proof that they were acting as babysitters before May 9th?
But she and I were working at the time
What kind of work were you and your daughter doing at the time, and does it have any relevance to the custody situation?
I have nothing written no
My daughter was a laundry attendant and I do construction work painting yard work I worked for a handyman company
What steps have you taken to contest the adoption since you received the adoption papers?
I don't know what to do I've called you guys that's it
I have called these people several times asking them for visitation and nobody will return my calls nobody will return my text messages I've Snapchat them nobody will return anything from me
What is the name of the attorney or law firm that sent the adoption papers?
Curtis m Garner
What is the contact information for Curtis M Garner mentioned in the adoption papers?
Phone number *-*-* curtis@cmgalaw.com
What is the exact content of the adoption papers you received from Curtis M Garner?
Just what I told you motion for leave of court to file a men petition to out of time and amend petition for adoption by consent
What is the exact date mentioned in the document for filing a response to the motion for leave of court to file an amended petition?
10 days after we receive the paper I don't see an exact date anywhere
What is the date you received the papers? This will help determine the deadline for your response.